A roomy dress + leather backpackSince you'll be traipsing through the city going from show to show, a lightweight, loose dress makes it easy to move in, and a chic leather backpack will carry all your essentials.
Photo credit: Something Navy

We've been around the block before when it comes to Fashion Week, so we'd like to think we have a pretty good idea of what's acceptable and what's not when it comes to outfitting ourselves for the week. While pretty much anything goes when it comes to the fashion industry's dress code, we like to abide by a couple of rules.

Rule #1: Comfort is key. You'll be traipsing all over the city, schlepping from show to presentation to after-party, so don't wear anything you'll want to be desperately wishing you could take off in the middle of the day. Plus, it's September in New York City, and the weather will be totally unpredictable. Dress for humidity, but plan for bouts of rain and chilliness.

Rule #2: Don't over-do it. While it's tempting to layer every item of jewelry you own in hopes of getting shot by a street style photog, remember that this week is about the designers and their collections. Save some of the spotlight for them, and don't go totally over-the-top with your own ensembles. Easy, chic separates are a no-fail way to go.

While those are the basic guidelines we like to stick to, we thought we'd show you a few specific outfit situations that are perfect for NYFW. Even better, you'll probably be able to recreate these using items you already own.